Gathering carriage with cushioning means



arch 1967 w. E. MILLER GATHERING CARRIAGE WITH CUSHIONING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1965 J INVENTQR. Wvwn E. M05581 BY 9 Wa W ATTORNEYS March 14, 1967 w, LL 3,309,076

GATHERING CARRIAGE WITH CUSHIONING MEANS Filed June 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,309,076 oarnnnnwc CARRIAGE wrrn CUSHIONING MEANS William E. Miller, Salem, Ohio, assignor to The Church- Budget Envelopment Company, Salem, Ohio, 2! corporation of Ohio Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 466,933 7 Claims. (Cl. 270---58) My invention relates to improvements in collating machines, and more specifically to collating machines for the gathering and stacking in order of printed articles such as envelopes and the like. Even more specifically, my invention relates to an improved collating machine construction having meansfor minimizing the severity of the required reversals of movement of the gathering carriage and despite the fact that this carriage necessarily must travel at relatively high speeds.

Various prior forms of collating machines have been provided some of which have been specifically constructed for the purpose of gathering and stacking flat sheet-like articles such as envelopes and the like, with such gathering and stacking being accomplished in a predetermined order. One collating machine construction of this type is disclosed and claimed in the U.S. Patent No. 2,997,293, dated Aug. 22, 1961, of Joseph A. Pidgeon, entitled, Collating Machine Construction, and the present invention is an improvement on the collating machine construction of this prior patent. 1

As disclosed in said Patent No. 2,997,293, a series of positioning steps are mounted aligned between a starting and finishing end of the machine, with automatic supply means being provided for positioning an envelope on each of these positioning steps in a particular timed sequence. After these envelopes are properly positioned, one on each of the positioning steps, a gathering carriage moves along the positioning steps from the machine starting to finishing end and is provided with gathering means thereon for gathering and stacking the envelopes in sequence for ultimate discharge of the gathered stack at the finishing end of the machine.

In order to maintain a high speed collating operation, the gathering carriage is mounted on the machine movable continuously from the starting to finishing end of the machine during which the envelope gathering and stacking is accomplished, and then immediately in reverse return movement from the finishing to the starting end of the machine. It is during this reverse return movement of the gathering carriage that the positioning steps are supplied automatically with the next series of envelopes to be gathered.

Thus, when the gathering carriage reaches the starting end of the machine in this reverse return movement, the positioning steps are prepared with envelopes positioned thereon so that the gathering carriage may immediately again begin the gathering and stacking movement from the starting to finishing end. The machine is, therefore, constructed to carry out continuously in proper timed sequence a great number of gathering and stacking operations at relatively hi h speed.

The principal difliculty with the collating machine construction of said Patent No. 2,997,293 is occasioned by the fact that the gathering carriage which accomplishes the gathering and stacking operation in the one direction of travel from the machine starting to finishing end 3,369,075 Patented lt iar. 14, 1967 must, when it arrives at the finishing end and discharges the finished stack of envelopes, abruptly stop and directly reverse movement for its return to the machine starting end in preparation for the next gathering and stacking operation. Furthermore, this same abrupt stopping and reversal of movement of this gathering carriage must take place when the gathering carriage again reaches the starting end of the machine in order that the next gathering and stacking operation may be commenced.

As a result, various problems have been encountered with failures and malfunctions, not only in the various parts of the gathering carriage required for providing the desired movement of this carriage, but also and particularly in the chain drives and driving connections for this gathering carriage.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a collating machine construction having gathering carriage cushioning means which essentially eliminates the foregoing problems with the prior constructions.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a collating machine construction having gathering carriage cushioning means positioned at least at the machine finishing end, and preferably at both the machine finishing and starting ends, which effectively cushions the necessary abrupt stopping and reversing of movement of the gathering carriage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide collating machine construction having gathering carriage cushioning means of the foregoing type which is directly engaged by the driving carriage shortly prior to the carriage reaching the point of required stopping and reversal of movement, with the cushioning means being formed for resiliently opposing the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the one direction and urgingthe gathering carriage in its reverse direction of movement during the initial stages thereof.-

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a collating machine construction having gathering carriage cushioning means of the foregoing type in which the cushioning means may be formed by a plunger directly engageable by the gathering carriage, with the plunger being movable between anextended position and retracted positions, and with the plunger being resiliently urged toward its extended position.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a collating machine construction having gathering carriage cushioning means of the foregoing'type which satisfies all of the above objects in a relatively simple and efiicient manner, and at a minimum of expense.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, a preferred embodiment of whichillustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In general terms, the improvements in collating machine construction of the present invention may be stated as residing in a collating machine for collating envelopes and the like of the general type in which a series of adjacent envelope positioning means are mounted aligned between a starting and finishing end of the,

the gathering carriage continuously from movements in the reverse direction of movement into immediate subsequent movements in the one direction of movement so that the gathering carriage is continuously alternately moved in the one and reverse directions of movement.

Still further, the collating machine is of the type in which gathering means is operably connected to the gathering carriage for gathering and stacking progressively in order envelopes positioned on the series of envelope positioning'means as the gathering carriage moves continuously from the starting to the finishing end in the one direction ofmovement, and for discharging. the stack of envelopes as the gathering carriage reaches the finishing end.

The improvements of the present invention include resilient cushioningmeans-mounted at the machine finishing end positioned aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage immediately prior to the gathering carriage reaching the finishing end during movement of the gath- I ering carriage from the starting to the finishing end in the one direction of movement,,and remaining engaged with the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in theone direction of movement and'during the initial stages of movement from the finishing end to the starting end in the reverse direction of movement. This resilient cushioning means is constructed and arranged for resiliently opposing the movement of the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movementofqthe gathering carriage in the one'direction.

of movement and resiliently urging the gathering carriage ,in'the reverse direction of the: movement during the initial stages of movementof the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement.

Also, it isgpreferred to provide a second resilient cushioning means mounted at the machine starting end posir tioned, constructed and arranged for effective operation in similar manner for the reversal of movement of the gathering carriage when this gathering carriage reaches the machine starting end in'its reverse direction of move'-,

ment andultimately begins its one direction of movement.

More specifically, ,each of these resilient cushioning means may include a plunger mounted movable between an extended position and retracted positions, with means preferably in the form of a compression spring operably connected to the plunger for resiliently opposing movement of the plunger toward the retracted positions and urging the plunger toward the extended position. Furthermore, this'plunger is positioned with an endaligned for engagement by the gathering carriage and may also include stop means for limiting movement of the lunger froma retracted position into and determining theextended position, as Well as a first resilient material bumper means on-the plunger end engageable by the gathering carriage when the gathering carriage engages the plunger end, and second resilient material bumper means operably positioned relative to the plunger for. engagement by a portion of the plunger, preferablythestop means, upon movement of the plunger into extended position.

Finally, it is preferred that the means operably connected to the gathering carriage for, driving the gathering carriage continuously in the. directions of movement includes sprocket means rotatably mounted at the starting and finishing ends with continuous drive chain means engaged over these sprocket means. Also, it is preferred that the resilient: cushioning means at the respective start- 4 ing and finishing ends will be mounted on'plate means, With the plate means having contoured edge portions ex-- tending closely adjacent and edgewise covering portions of the sprocket means and drive chain means for aiding in preventing disengagement between the sprocket means and drive chain means, particularly during reversals of movement of the gathering carriage at the respective ends.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improvedy collatingmachine construction of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similarv parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of the collating machine starting end and including the improvementsofthe present invention;

FIG. 2, a view similar to FIG. 1 of the collating machine finishing end;

FIG. 3, a view similar ,toFIG. 2 but showing the,

gathering carriage and cushioning means in different positions;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary sectional view,.part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG.-5, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking ,in the direction of the arrows 55 in FIG. 3; and

FIG,,6, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows. 6-6 in FIG. 3.

As stated in the foregoing-the present invention comprises improvements on the collating machine construction described and claimed, in the prior JosephA. Pidgeon U.S.;Patent No. 2,997,293. For this reason, only the important portions of the collating machine construction of said prior Patent'No. 2,997,293 relating directly to the improvements of the present invention are shown and described specifically herein, and attention is directed tosaid Patent No. 2,997,293 for the specific details of theremainder of the collating machine construction which will only-be generally discussed in the following descrip tion. 7

It should beclearly understood, however, that, al.-.

though the improvements of the present invention are shown and described specifically for use-,withthe collating machine construction of said prior Patent No. 2,997,293, it is not intended to limit the principles of the, present invention to that specific collating machine construction alone, but ratherthe principles of the present invention maybe advantageously used with and incorporated in other collating machine constructions of similar type, without departing from the principles of the present invention.

According to said Patent No. 2,997,293, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings of the present application, thecollating machine frame, generally. indicated at It mounts. a seriesof adjacent and aligned positioning steps, generally indicated at 11, 'for the reception thereon of fiat printed articles, such as the envelopes 12,

for the later gatheringand stacking thereof in order by a gathering carriage,- generally indicated at 13. These envelopes .12 are properly fed to and positioned on the positioning steps 11 prior to. the gathering stroke or movement of the gathering carriage 13 from a'series of supply chutes (not shown) and transfer means (not shown) in a particular timed sequence directly related to the. timed movement of the gathering carriage 13.

The details of the various parts and. assemblies of the collating machine for accomplishing this action are clearly set forth in said Patent No. 2,997,293, as are the var-. ious drive mechanisms,camming devices and electronic sensing means so that the over-all envelope collating operation may be carried out. I

For purposes of the improvements of the present invention, the important portion of the collating machine construction is the gathering carriage 13 and the particular motion that this gathering carriage carries' out in the overall collating operation. I

From. the general standpoint, once the envelopes 12 have been properly positioned on the positioning steps 11, the gathering carriage 13 starts at the machine starting end, generally indicated at 14 and shown in FIG. 1, passes at high speed along the positioning steps 11 to the machine finishing end, generally indicated at and shown in FIG. 2. During this high speed movement of the gathering carriage 13 along the positioning steps 11 containing the envelopes 12 thereon, gathering means, generally indicated at 16, mounted on the gathering carriage 13 is constructed and aranged for picking up and stacking in order of pickup, the envelopes 12. Thus, when the gathering carriage 13 moving in the one direction along the positioning steps 11 from the machine starting end 14 to the machine finishing end 15 finally arrives at the machine finishing end and at the last of the positioning steps 11, a complete properly collated stack of the envelopes 12 has been formed, as shown in FIG. 2, and due to the particular cycle of motion of the gathering carriage 13 and the gathering means 16 thereon, this completed stack of envelopes 12 is automatically discharged from the gathering means 16 onto the rotating stack receiving table, generally indicated at 17 in FIG. 2 and again fully described in said Patent No. 2,997,293.

Then, due to the particular mounting and control thereof to be hereinafter described more in detail, the gathering carriage 13 in a continuous movement immediately starts a return movement along the positioning steps 11 from the machine finishing end 15 toward and to the machine starting end 14, where, still preferably in continuous movement, the gathering carriage 13 again reverses direction and immediately again starts the gathering movement in the one direction. During the time of the return movement of the gathering carriage 13 from the machine finishing end 15 to the machine starting end 14, the next series or group of envelopes 12 are automatically positioned on the positioning steps 11, preparatory to the next stack of envelopes being gathered and ultimately deposited or discharged at the machine finishing end 15, as previously described.

Referring to the specific construction of the gathering carriage 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this gathering carriage is formed by a plate member 18 which extends generally vertically and is roller mounted for high speed movement along the positioning steps 11 by the pairs of upper and lower' guide rollers 19 received for rolling movement along the vertically spaced and parallel upper and lower guide tracks 20 and 21. The gathering means 16 for the gathering carriage 13 is formed by a spaced pair of stationary vertical guide bars 22 mounted on the carriage plate member 18 and forming a vertical guide slot 23 therebetween, which guide slot extends completely through plate member 18.

The mounting bar 24 for the gathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 26 is received mounted vertically reciprocal within the guide slot 23 between the guide bars 22 and against the face of the plate member 18, with thegathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 26 spaced downwardly from the gathering carriage 13, the actual positioning of these gathering fingers and spring plate member being determined by the particular phase of movement of the gathering carriage 13 as will be hereinafter described. The actual drive for movement of the gathering carriage 13 in both the one and return directions of movement along the positioning steps 11 is accomplished through this gathering finger mounting bar 24 by means of a guide pin 27 received through an intermediate portion of this mounting bar 24 and secured to the drive chain 28.

The drive chain 28 is a continuous common link chain having a nearly rectangular path of travel, being mounted at the machine starting end of FIG. 1 over the rotatable upper and lower sprockets 29 and 30, and at the machine finishing end 15 of FIG. 2 over the rotatable upper and lower sprockets 31 and 32, as shown. Timed movement of this drive chain 28 may be accomplished through a similar form of drive chain 33 operably connected to the upper sprocket 29, as shown in FIG. 1, and in a manner fully described in said Patent No. 2,997,293.

The important point is that, due to the positioning of the various sprockets 29 through 32 providing the generally rectangular path of travel of the drive chain 23, the guide pin 27 connected at a particular point on the drive chain 28 must necessarily follow this same rectangular path of travel. For this reason, due to the connection of this guide pin also to the mounting bar 24, when the portion of drive chain mounting the guide pin is forming the lower strand of chain, the mounting bar 24 will be extended its maximum distance downwardly, and when the portion of drive chain mounting the guide pin is part of the upper strand of chain, the mounting bar 2 iwiil have been moved reciprocally a maximum distance upwardly. Furthermore, due to the particular above described mounting of the mounting bar 24 on the plate member 13 of the gathering carriage 13, this connection of guide pin 27 between mounting bar 24 and drive chain 23 provides movement of the gathering carriage 13 along the positioning steps 11 in one direction or the other, depending on the position of the guide pin 27 in either the upper or lowerv strand of the drive chain 23.

The various elements of the collating machine construction are arranged timed such that when the gathering carriage 13 begins movement from the machine starting end 14 toward the machine finishing end 15, the guide pin 27 has been moved by the drive chain 28 to the lower strand of this drive chain, thereby lowering the mounting bar 24 and the gathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 2a, thereon, so that these gathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 26 are properiy positioned movable along the positioning steps 11 and operable to gather and stack the envelopes 12 on these positioning steps 11, the latter portion of this path of travel being shown in FIG. 2. As the gathering carriage 13 reaches the machine finishing end 15, the portion of the drive chain 28 containing the guide pin 27 passes over the lower sprocket 32 upwardly to the upper sprocket 31 and begins movement toward the machine starting end 14.

This, in turn, automatically raises the mounting bar 24 with the gathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 26 thereon, and at the same time automatically reverses the movement or" the gathering carriage 13, so that the gathering carriage begins the reverse direction of movement from the machine finishing end 15 to the machine starting end 14. it is during this latter movement, as previously described, that the positioning steps 11 are automatically provided with the next series of envelopes to be gathered and stacked, so that when the gathering carriage 13 reaches the machine starting end 14, the portion of the drive chain 28 containing the guide pin 27 moves downwardly over the upper sprocket 29 and over the lower sprocket to again lower the mounting bar 24 with the gathering fingers 25 and spring plate member 26 and reverse the direction of travel of the gathering carriage 13 to start another gathering and stacking cycle.

Obviously, with the drive chain 28 moving continuously and carrying the gathering carriage 13 at relatively high speed for gathering and then return, the changes in direction or" the gathering carriage 13 at each of the machine starting and finishing ends 14 and 15 is relatively abrupt, causing extreme stresses on the various machine elements involved and particularly the guide bars 22 on the gathering carriage 13, mounting bar 24, guide pin 27, drive chain 28 and the sprockets 29 through 32 mounting this drive chain. It is for the minimizing of the effect of these shock loads on the various machine elements during the abrupt stopping and reverse movement of the gathering carriage 13 to which the improvements of the present invention are specifically directed.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 through 6 showing the machine finishing end 15, a mounting plate 34 is secured extending vertically between the upper and lower guide tracks and 21 having a contoured edge radial-.

an edgewise cover for the drive chain 28 at the machine finishing end 15 preventing the chain from disengaging from the sprockets during the reversal of movement of the gathering carriage 13.

In other words, as the gathering carriage 13 reaches the machine finishing end 15 moving in the one direction gathering and stacking the envelopes 12, the portion of the drive chain 28 carrying the guide pin 27 will begin to move upwardly around the lower sprocket 32 which will begin to bring the gathering carriage 13 to anabrupt stop. Furthermore, as this portion of the drive chain 28 carrying/the guide pin 27 continues upwardly over the upper sprocket 31, the reverse movement of the gathering carriage 13 for the return toward the machine starting end 14 will begin.

During this reversal movement period of the gathering carriage 13, theforces on the drive chain 28"by the gathering carriage 13 through the guide pin 27 will necessarily tend to force the drive chain to disengage from these sprockets 31: and 32. Obviously, the tension in the drive chain 28 must be maintained sutlicient that such sprocket f disengagement will not occur and so that there is no appreciable amount of contact between this drive'chain 2S and the contoured edge 35 of mounting plate 34, but this mounting plate edge will also act as a guard for preventing damage and possible injury in the event of chain failure during the high speed operation of the machine.

As shown, the mounting plate 34 extends away from sprockets 31 and 32 and is formed with a plate extension 35 upon which the plunger assembly, generally indicated at 37, ismounted. As shown,the plunger assembly 37 includes the spaced mounting blocks 38 and 39 secured to the plate extension 36 and positioning the cylinder 49;

Cylinder, 49 opens toward the path of travel of the gathering carriage .13 at the mounting block 38, and/extends from mounting block 38 through mounting block 39 and is formed with a closed end 41. A compression spring 42 is received within the cylinder 46 against the closed end 41, and a plunger 43 is reciprocally slidably received in cylinder against spring 42.

A stop pin 44 is secured extending laterally from the plunger 43 through a longitudinaly elongated slots 45 in the cylinder, 43-, so that when the plunger 43 moves reciprocally in the cylinder 4%, the stop pin 44 Will move longitudinally along the slot 45. An annular resilient materialbumper 46 is positioned surrounding the cylinder 40 against the mounting block 38, with the stop pin 44, slots 45 and bumper 46 being arranged such that when the plunger 43 is moved by the compression spring 42 to maximum extended position toward the path of travel of the gathering carriage 13, the stop pin 44 will engage the resilient bumper as. In other words, the abutmentof the stop pin 44 and bumper 46 determine the extended position of the plunger 43, and when: there is nothing engaging the plunger, the plunger will automatically move to and against this resilient bumper by virtue of the stop pin.

Further, in view of the positioning of cylinder 40 by v the plate extension 3 6, the plunger 43 is extended position projects from the open end of cylinder 40 over the main part of the mounting plate 3450 as to be in direct alignmenttwith the path of travelof the gathering carriage13. The projecting free end-of plunger 43 is also covered by a resilient material bumper 47, as shown.

This plunger assembly 37 is constructed and arranged such that as the'gathering'carriage 13 closely approaches,

the machine finishing end 15 in movement in the one direction for the'gathering and stacking stroke, thereby nearing the point at whichthis gathering carriage 13- carriage 13 in this one direction, further movement of I the gathering carriage isiresiliently resisted by the plunger 43 and'the compression spring 42, so that the stopping of the gathering carriage is greatly aided and the shock thereof on the various machine elements minimized by this plunger assembly 37.

Also, after the gathering carriage 13 has been stopped and the direction of mov-ement'ibegins in the reverse return direction, this plunger assembly 37 will urge the gathering carriage 13 in that reverse direction until the plunger 43 has moved to full extension and the stop pin 44 has engaged the resilient bumper 46. This again ,IIliIllmizes the shock on the various machine elements caused by this necessarily abrupt/and relatively high speed reversal of movement of the gathering carriage 13.

Further according to the improvements of the present invention, it ispreferred to likewise provide this same shock minimizing means at the machine starting end 14, as

shown in FIG.- 1, in order that the effects of the abrupt As shown in FIG. 1 the plunger assembly 48 at this machine starting end 14 is mounted, constructed and aligned virtually indenticially to that just described at the machine finishing end, including the mounting plate 49 having the contoured'edge 50 covering the drive chain 28 over the upper and lower sprockets 29 andStL'the i plate extension 51 mounting-the, plunger assembly 43 with the plunger 52 aligned with the path of travel of the gathering carriage '13, and the various resilient material bumpers 53 and 54 acting in identical manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the gathering carriage 13 is stopped ready for beginning movement in the one direction toward the machine finishing end in the start of the gathering and stacking stroke, the portion of the drive chain 28 containing the guide pin 27 is vertically midway between the upper, and lower sprockets -29and 30 moving the mounting bar 24 with the gathering fingers and spring plate member Hand 26 downwardly, and the plunger 52 .is in-fully retracted position urging the gathering carriage'in the one direction of movements.

Thus, according to the improvements of the present invention, guards are provided at least at the machine finishing end 15, and preferablyalso at the machine starting end 14, 'for the drive chain 28. in the form of the mounting plates 34 and 49, in order to resist separation of the drive chain from itssprockets and for minimizing damage and injury in the event of failure of the drive chain 28 as the result of thev abrupt stopping and reversal of movement of, the high speed gathering carriage 13. Furthermore, cushioning means is provided at themachine finishingend 15, and again preferably also at the machine starting end 314, in the form of the plunger assemblies 37 and, 48 for minimizing the shock load on the various machine elements caused by this abrupt high speed reversal of movement of the gathering carriage i13.'

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been,

9 unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

aving now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Collating machine construction for collating envelopes and the like of the type in which a series of adjacent envelope positioning means are mounted aligned between a starting and a finishing end, in which a gathering carriage is mounted movable continuously along the envelope positioning means from the starting to the finishing end in one direction of movement and back to the starting end in the reverse direction of movement, in which there is means operably connected to the gathering carriage for driving the gathering carriage continuously in the directions of movement, and in which gathering means is operably connected to the gathering carriage for gathering and stacking progressively in order envelopes positioned on the series of envelope positioning means as the gathering carriage moves continuously from the starting to the finishing end in the one direction of movement and for discharging the stack of envelopes as the gathering carriage reaches the finishing end; the improvements including resilient cushioning means mounted at the finishing positioned aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage immediately prior to the gathering cariage reaching the finishing end during movement of the gathering carriage from the starting to the finishing end in the one direction of movement and remaining engaged with the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement and during the initial stages of movement from the finishing end to the starting end in the reverse direction of movement, and the resilient cushioning means eing constructed and arranged for resiliently opposing the movement of the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement and resiliently urging the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement during the initial stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement.

2. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the resilient cushioning means includes a plunger mounted movable between an extended position and retracted positions, means operably connected to the plunger resiliently opposing movement of the plunger toward the retracted positions and urging the plunger toward the extended position, and the plunger having an end aiigned for engagement by the gathering carriage.

3. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the resilient cushioning means includes a plunger mounted movable between an extended position and retracted positions, a compression spring operably connected to the plunger resiliently opposing movement of the plunger toward the retracted positions and urging the plunger toward the extended position, stop means for limiting movement of the plunger from a retracted position into and determining the extended position, and the plunger having an end aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage.

4-. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the resilient cushioning means includes a plunger mounted movable between an extended position and retracted positions, means operably connected to the resiliently opposing movement of the plunger toward the retracted positions and urging the plunger toward the extended position, the plunger having an end aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage, first resilient material bumper means on the plunger and engageable by the gathering carriage when the gathering carriage engages the plunger end, and second resilient material bumper means operably positioned relative to the plunger foren gagement by a portion of the plunger upon movement of the plunger into extended position.

5. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the means operably connected to the gathering carriage for driving the gathering carriage continuously in the directions of movement includes sprocket means rotatably mounted at the starting and finishing ends, and continuous drive chain means engaged over the sprocket means and between the starting and finishing ends; in which the resilient cushioning means is mounted at the finishing end on plate means; and in which the plate means has a contoured edge portion extending closely adjacent and edgewise covering a portion of the sprocket means and drive ohain means at the finishing end for aiding in preventing disengagement between the sprocket means and drive chain means particularly during reversal of movement of the gathering carriage at the finishing end.

6. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the means driving the gathering carriage drives the gathering carriage continuously from movements in the reverse direction of movement into immediate subsequent movements in the one direction of movement so that the gathering carriage is continuously alternately moved in the one and reverse directions of movement; in which a second resilient cushioning means is mounted at the starting end positioned aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage immediately prior to the gathering carriage reaching the starting end during movement of the gathering carriage from the finishing to the starting end in the reverse direction of movement and remaining engaged with the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement and during the initial stages of movement from the starting end to the finishing end in the one direction of movement, and the second resilient cushioning means being constructed and arranged for resiliently opposing the movement of the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement and resiliently urging the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement during the initial stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement.

7. Collating machine construction as defined in claim 1 in which the means driving the gathering carriage drives the gathering carriage continuously from movements in the reverse direction of movement into immediate subsequent movements in the one direction of movement so that the gathering carriage is continuously alternately moved in the one and reverse directions of movement; in which a second resilient cushioning means is mounted at the starting end positioned aligned for engagement by the gathering carriage immediately prior to the gathering carriage reaching the starting end during movement of the gathering carriage from the finishing to the starting end in the reverse direction of movement and remaining engaged with the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement and during the initial stages of movement from the starting end to the finishing end in the one direction of movement, and the second resilient cushioning means being constructed and arranged for resiliently op posing the movement of the gathering carriage in the latter stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the reverse direction of movement and resiliently urging the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement during the initial stages of movement of the gathering carriage in the one direction of movement; in which the means operably connected to the gathering carriage for driving the gathering carriage continuously in the directions of movement includes sprocket means rotatably mounted at r 1 1 1 2 the starting and finishing ends, and continuous drivechain drive chain means particularly during reversals of movemeans engaged over the sprocket means and between the ment of the gathering carriage atzthe respectively ends. starting and finishing ends; in which resilient cushioning means at the starting and finishing ends are mounted at References Cited y the Examinfl' the respective ends on plate means; andin which the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS plate means atthe starting and finishing ends eacn have 2,997293 8/1961. pidgeon "In" contoured edge portions extending closely adjacent and edgewise covering portions of the sprocket means and drive chain means at the respective ends for'aiding in EUGENE CAPOZIO P 11mm? Exammerpreventing disengagement between the sprocket means and 10 WILLIAMS, Assistant 

1. COLLATING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION FOR COLLATING ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE OF THE TYPE IN WHICH A SERIES OF ADJACENT ENVELOPE POSITIONING MEANS ARE MOUNTED ALIGNED BETWEEN A STARTING AND A FINISHING END, IN WHICH A GATHERING CARRIAGE IS MOUNTED MOVABLE CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE ENVELOPE POSITIONING MEANS FROM THE STARTING TO THE FINISHING END IN ONE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND BACK TO THE STARTING END IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, IN WHICH THERE IS MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE GATHERING CARRIAGE FOR DRIVING THE GATHERING CARRIAGE CONTINUOUSLY IN THE DIRECTIONS OF MOVEMENT, AND IN WHICH GATHERING MEANS IS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE GATHERING CARRIAGE FOR GATHERING AND STACKING PROGRESSIVELY IN ORDER ENVELOPES POSITIONED ON THE SERIES OF ENVELOPE POSITIONING MEANS AS THE GATHERING CARRIAGE MOVES CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE STARTING TO THE FINISHING END IN THE ONE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND FOR DISCHARGING THE STACK OF ENVELOPES AS THE GATHERING CARRIAGE REACHES THE FINISHING END; THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING RESILIENT CUSHIONING MEANS MOUNTED AT THE FINISHING POSITIONED ALIGNED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE GATHERING CARRIAGE REACHING THE FINISHING END DURING MOVEMENT OF THE GATHERING CARRIAGE FROM THE STARTING TO THE FINISHING END IN THE ONE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND REMAINING ENGAGED WITH THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE LATTER STAGES OF MOVEMENT OF THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE ONE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF MOVEMENT FROM THE FINISHING END TO THE STARTING END IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, AND THE RESILIENT CUSHIONING MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR RESILIENTLY OPPOSING THE MOVEMENT OF THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE LATTER STAGES OF MOVEMENT OF THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE ONE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND RESILIENTLY URGING THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF MOVEMENT OF THE GATHERING CARRIAGE IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT. 